Cruise link to A&N

The West Bengal and Andaman governments are planning to introduce a jointly marketed weekly luxury cruise between Kolkata and Port Blair for tourists.

It would cost less than travel by air between Kolkata and Port Blair and provide four-day stay at Port Blair, West Bengal's housing minister Gautam Deb and the Andaman & Nicobar Island (A&N) governor R G Kapse, said.

The A&N and West Bengal governments will meet KoPT and related parties on May 8 to discuss the issue.

KoPT chairman A K Chandra said the port would extend concessions and sought West Bengal's help to restore night navigation between Sandheads and Kolkata dock.

"A new route to Port Blair through Sandhead would reduce travel time using a night pilot system," Chanda added.

Kapse said A&N had sought help from West Bengal to attract investments in in agriculture and fishery sectors, and information technology.